The nonbinding straw ballot failed with 68,627 voters (60.51%) opposed and 44,792 (39.49%) in favor.

The proposal asked whether the county should develop a plan to combine city and county governments under Leon County’s governmental structure and leadership.

Any consolidation would require approval by the Florida Legislature and a subsequent voter referendum.

Voters previously rejected consolidation proposals in 1971, 1973, 1976 and 1992. The 1992 proposal failed by a 60% to 40% margin, nearly identical to Tuesday’s result. Historical opposition has centered on concerns about rural representation, taxation, law enforcement and the distribution of government services.

Supporters have argued consolidation could reduce duplication and improve government efficiency.

The latest rejection comes despite existing cooperation between city and county governments through shared planning, economic development, emergency dispatch and Blueprint programs. Unlike previous binding consolidation referendums, Tuesday’s advisory vote did not propose a specific consolidation charter.

According to unofficial results from the Leon County Supervisor of Elections, both measures received more than 66% support, with all 134 precincts reporting.
Election Night Reporting

The first referendum, which extends the existing half-cent sales surtax for another 15 years, passed with 79,834 votes (67.79%) in favor and 37,941 votes (32.21%) opposed.

The sales tax extension will continue funding improvements to school facilities, technology, transportation and safety infrastructure. The ballot language specifies that revenues will be used for expanding, constructing and improving school facilities, upgrading transportation and technology, and strengthening security.

The tax will also continue to benefit eligible charter schools, with revenues distributed according to their proportionate share of total school district enrollment.

The second referendum, establishing a one-mill property tax levy, passed with 77,542 votes (66.24%) supporting the measure and 39,525 votes (33.76%) opposing it.

Unlike the sales tax extension, the property tax measure represents an additional tax on property owners. The levy will begin July 1, 2027, and continue through June 30, 2031.

Under the ballot language, the additional revenue will support increased compensation for teachers and school employees, enhanced school security operations and educational programs, including arts education and athletics.

A one-mill property tax equals $1 for every $1,000 of taxable property value. For a homeowner with a taxable property value of $200,000, the levy would amount to approximately $200 annually. The total revenues raised in the first year is estimated to be $30 million.

The measure also requires revenues to be shared with eligible charter schools under Florida law.

Both referendums include provisions for oversight by citizen advisory committees responsible for reviewing expenditures.

Matlow received 37,063 votes (50.9%) compared to Ausley’s 35,698 votes (49.1%), a margin of 1,365 votes.

The geographic breakdown reveals significant differences from the 2022 mayoral election, when incumbent John Dailey defeated progressive challenger Kristin Dozier by nearly 4,000 votes.

District 1 – Southside

Matlow captured 57.8% of the vote in District 1, which includes predominantly Black neighborhoods on Tallahassee’s Southside. His 8,250 votes exceeded Ausley’s 6,028 by 2,222 votes.

This represents a significant reversal from 2022, when Dailey defeated Dozier in the district by 735 votes.

The results indicate that Matlow’s campaign successfully attracted support in an area that previously favored the more moderate mayoral candidate.

District 2 – Student Areas

Matlow’s strongest percentage came in District 2, which includes Florida State University and surrounding student neighborhoods.

Matlow received 64.6% of the vote, defeating Ausley by 2,856 votes.

In 2022, Dozier carried the district by just 662 votes. Matlow’s substantially larger margin provided a critical advantage.

District 3 – Waverly, Betton Hills area

Ausley narrowly carried District 3, receiving 51.6% compared to Matlow’s 48.4%, a margin of 485 votes.

Dailey won the district by 654 votes in 2022, indicating continued support for more moderate candidates, although by a smaller margin.

District 4 – Northeast Tallahassee

Ausley’s strongest performance came in the more conservative Northeast neighborhoods, including Killearn and Summerbrooke.

Ausley received 62.5% of the vote, defeating Matlow by 3,598 votes.

In 2022, Dailey carried the district by 3,816 votes, demonstrating the Northeast’s continued importance as a stronghold for moderate candidates.

District 5 – Eastside

Matlow narrowly carried District 5, which includes neighborhoods east of downtown along the Mahan Drive and Apalachee Parkway corridors. Matlow received 51% of the vote, winning by 370 votes. Dozier carried the district by 553 votes in 2022.

The Bottom Line

The biggest difference between 2026 and the Dailey-Dozier race in 2022 was the Southside, where a 735-vote advantage for Dailey became a 2,222-vote advantage for Matlow — a net swing of 2,957 votes toward the progressive candidate. Combined with Matlow’s expanded advantage in District 2, that shift was sufficient to overcome Ausley’s substantial Northeast margin.

The results suggest that Tallahassee’s progressive coalition expanded beyond its traditional student and eastside base, fundamentally changing the electoral geography that delivered Dailey’s victory four years earlier.

Mayor Jeremy Matlow defeated former state Sen. Loranne Ausley in a close contest, receiving 37,063 votes (50.94%) to Ausley’s 35,698 votes (49.06%). Matlow’s margin of victory was 1,365 votes out of 72,761 cast.

In the City Commission Seat 3 race, progressive candidate P.J. Perez defeated Tom Derzypolski by a substantial margin, receiving 44,427 votes (64.21%) compared to Derzypolski’s 24,764 votes (35.79%).

However, progressive candidate Dot Inman-Johnson was unsuccessful in her attempt to unseat incumbent Commissioner Dianne Williams-Cox in Seat 5. Williams-Cox received 35,638 votes (51.70%) compared to Inman-Johnson’s 33,292 votes (48.30%), a margin of 2,346 votes.

With all 80 precincts reporting, the results establish a progressive majority consisting of Matlow, Perez and Commissioner Jack Porter. Williams-Cox and Commissioner Curtis Richardson will represent the minority bloc.

The new alignment could have significant implications for city policies and spending priorities.

During the campaign, progressive candidates emphasized affordable housing, government accountability, environmental protection and changes to the city’s approach to growth and development.

With three votes, the progressive majority could advance policies that previously faced resistance, including additional development regulations, changes to utility policies and greater scrutiny of city spending and economic development incentives.

The majority could also influence appointments to city advisory boards and the selection of leadership positions, while potentially revisiting decisions made by previous commissions.

One area to watch will be the city’s relationship with developers. Matlow and Porter have frequently challenged development proposals and policies they contend favor developers over existing neighborhoods. Perez’s election provides another potential vote for that approach.

Utility rates and the city’s electric utility investments could also become contentious as commissioners consider future energy projects and their financial impact on customers.

However, campaign promises will now face the practical challenges of governing, including budget limitations, existing contractual obligations and competing demands for city services.

For Matlow, Porter and Perez, the challenge will be translating their campaign positions into governing decisions while demonstrating that their policies can deliver measurable results for city residents.

Early voting Republicans are on the same pace as 2022, however Democrats are surpassing their 2022 early vote numbers. Is this advantage the result of 2022 election day Democrat voters casting ballots early or is this the sign of a more engaged Democrat electorate?

The Latest Numbers

According to the latest figures, 44,353 Democrats have voted by mail or in person during early voting, compared with 20,767 Republicans and 11,944 NPA voters.

Democrats account for 56.4% of the 78,680 ballots cast before Election Day, compared with 26.4% for Republicans and 15.2% for NPA voters.

The Democratic advantage over Republicans currently stands at 23,586 ballots, compared with 18,481 at the same stage of the 2022 election data.

The most significant change involves in-person early voting. Democrats have cast 28,333 early ballots, an 83.6% increase over 2022. Republicans have cast 14,197 early ballots, a 19.4% increase, while NPA voters have cast 8,255, more than double their 2022 total of 3,939.

Vote-by-mail participation has declined substantially across all three groups. Democratic mail ballots declined 35%, Republican mail ballots declined 32.5%, and NPA mail ballots declined 29.1%.

Despite these declines, Democrats have increased their combined pre-Election Day ballot total by 10.6% compared with 2022. Republican participation has declined 3.9%, while NPA participation has increased 30.7%.

The changing composition of early voters comes as Tallahassee residents prepare to decide several closely watched local contests, including races for mayor and City Commission.

However, the figures represent countywide participation rather than voters residing specifically within Tallahassee city limits. They also reflect party registration, not candidate preference. Registered Republicans, Democrats and NPA voters may support candidates regardless of party affiliation in nonpartisan municipal elections.

EARLY VOTING DATA, 2022 & 2026

Godby struck first on its opening possession, taking a 7-0 lead on a 15-yard touchdown pass from Landon Dougherty to Kyle Estimond. The Cougars extended their advantage later in the quarter when Kyle Estimond returned a punt for a touchdown, putting Godby ahead 14-0 with 5:20 remaining in the opening period.

Lincoln struggled to find its footing offensively early, and Godby’s defense continued to apply pressure. The Trojans managed to get a defensive stop late in the first quarter, but Godby maintained its two-touchdown advantage heading into the second.

Lincoln got on the scoreboard in the second quarter with a touchdown pass to Trevor Jacobs, cutting the deficit to 14-7. Godby responded quickly, however, with a deep touchdown pass to Kamari President to extend its lead to 21-7.

The Trojans put together another scoring opportunity, but Godby’s defense came up with an important stop after Lincoln moved the ball inside the Cougars’ 5-yard line. Lincoln settled for a field goal, making it a 21-10 game.

Godby leaned on its running game late in the half, putting together a scoring drive that ended with a quarterback sneak by Dougherty. The touchdown pushed the Cougars’ lead to 27-10 heading into halftime after Lincoln’s Hail Mary attempt was unsuccessful.

Godby continued to build on its advantage after the break, scoring seven points in the third quarter and adding 16 more in the fourth to finish with 50 points. Lincoln was held scoreless in the second half as the Cougars closed out the 40-point victory.

The funding, recently announced by the U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT), comes through the federal Safe Streets and Roads for All (SS4A) program. The award will allow Blueprint to move forward with improvements approximately seven years earlier than originally scheduled.

The grant builds on an initial $9 million local investment, bringing the combined funding commitment to $32.5 million.

“This project delivers what our residents have asked for – a safer Tharpe Street,” said Blueprint Intergovernmental Agency Board Chair and Tallahassee Mayor Pro Tem Curtis Richardson. “With an initial investment of $9 million, Blueprint staff leveraged an additional $23.5 million in federal funding to deliver this critical project for our community.”

The federal funding will support design and construction of the first segment of the Northwest Connector Corridor project, extending from Ocala Road to Mission Road.

Planned improvements include sidewalks along portions of Tharpe Street that currently lack pedestrian facilities, additional turn lanes to reduce traffic backups and replacement of existing open drainage ditches with an underground piped system.

The full Northwest Connector Corridor project covers approximately 2.6 miles of Tharpe Street, from Ocala Road to Capital Circle Northwest. The improvements are also intended to enhance access to Tower Road Park and Stoneler Road County Park.

An important component of the grant application was the inclusion of a Real-Time Automated Incident Detection, Notification and Rapid Response System.

The proposed technology will use sensors along Tharpe Street and at selected nearby intersections to automatically detect crashes and send alerts to the City of Tallahassee’s Regional Traffic Management Center.

The system is intended to improve emergency response times and traffic management following accidents. The City of Tallahassee will implement the intersection safety component of the project.

The $23.5 million award is the third major federal safety grant secured for local transportation improvements in recent years.

In December 2025, the same federal program awarded $16.8 million for improvements along North Monroe Street. In 2024, the program provided $9.6 million for the Jake Gaither pedestrian safety project.

Together, the three awards total approximately $49.9 million in federal transportation safety funding for the Tallahassee area.

Blueprint officials said the agency’s strategy of leveraging federal funding has allowed major infrastructure projects to advance without changing the project priorities previously approved by the Intergovernmental Agency Board.

Blueprint will work with USDOT over the coming months to finalize the grant agreement.

Construction on the Tharpe Street improvements is currently anticipated to begin in 2030.

Blueprint is a joint City of Tallahassee-Leon County agency responsible for implementing infrastructure projects funded through the local infrastructure sales tax and other funding sources.

Tallahassee mayoral candidate Jeremy Matlow’s political committee, Friends of Jeremy Matlow, has received a $200,000 contribution from the California-based Green Advocacy Project, according to newly reported campaign finance information.

The contribution, disclosed less than a week before the November 3 election, brings renewed attention to the role of out-of-state environmental organizations in Tallahassee politics and their interest in influencing the future of the city’s electric utility.

The timing also raises questions about campaign finance transparency. With only days remaining before voters go to the polls, the late disclosure leaves limited opportunity for news organizations to investigate the contribution and for voters to evaluate the donor’s policy objectives.

However, without evidence of the donor’s or campaign’s intentions, it cannot be established that the contribution was deliberately timed to avoid press coverage.

Who Is the Green Advocacy Project?

The Green Advocacy Project, based in Palo Alto, California, was founded in 2017 by progressive political activist Michael Kieschnick, who also founded CREDO Mobile.

The organization supports political efforts aimed at reducing dependence on fossil fuels and accelerating the transition to renewable energy. Its leadership includes political operatives associated with national progressive campaigns, including Bernie Sanders’ 2016 presidential campaign.

This is not the organization’s first involvement in Tallahassee elections.

In 2024, the Green Advocacy Project contributed $150,000 to Matlow’s One Tallahassee political committee, which supported progressive candidates for City Commission. The organization has also contributed $200,000 to Lead Locally PAC between 2024 and 2026.

Why Is California Interested in Tallahassee?

One explanation involves Tallahassee’s city-owned electric utility.

Unlike communities served by investor-owned utilities, Tallahassee’s elected City Commission has significant authority over electricity generation, energy investments and utility policies.

The city’s electric generation system relies heavily on natural gas, making Tallahassee an attractive target for environmental organizations seeking to accelerate the transition to renewable energy.

In September, California-based Lead Locally endorsed Matlow and City Commission candidates Dot Inman-Johnson and P.J. Perez. The organization has specifically advocated a rapid transition to clean energy in Tallahassee.

Matlow has also received the endorsement of the Jane Fonda Climate PAC, another national organization supporting candidates committed to reducing fossil fuel use.

Matlow’s own voting record reflects his willingness to challenge existing natural gas commitments.

In February 2024, Matlow and Commissioner Jack Porter opposed extending a natural gas pipeline capacity agreement after utility officials warned that the capacity would be needed to meet customer demand.

Matlow instead sought a review of alternatives to natural gas. The proposed alternative failed, and the contract extension passed 3-2.

The disagreement highlights a potentially significant financial issue for Tallahassee residents.

Matlow has argued that transitioning to renewable energy could lower utility bills. Supporters of renewable energy also point to reduced fuel expenses and the potential for long-term savings.

However, accelerating that transition could require substantial investments in generation, battery storage and backup capacity. The impact on customer rates would depend on the cost and timing of those investments.

Questions About Timing

The $200,000 contribution is particularly noteworthy because of its proximity to Election Day.

Although late campaign contributions are permitted under applicable reporting requirements, disclosure shortly before an election can limit the time available for public scrutiny.

The distinction between when the contribution was received and when it was publicly reported is important. Establishing whether the timing was intentionally designed to minimize news coverage would require additional evidence.

The contribution also raises broader questions about what California environmental organizations expect from the candidates they support.

Matlow previously defended out-of-state contributions to his political committee, telling WFSU in 2024 that the financial support helped his political allies compete with opposing interests.

For Tallahassee voters, the central questions are why the Green Advocacy Project is investing another $200,000 in local politics, whether the contribution is connected to specific utility policy expectations, and how those policies could affect electric rates.

The answers could have consequences extending well beyond Tuesday’s election.

Single-parent households can face greater financial pressures because household expenses often must be supported by one parent rather than two. However, the Census figures alone do not establish the income or economic circumstances of individual families.

The findings are particularly relevant to local discussions about poverty, housing affordability, educational outcomes and economic mobility.

The Numbers

The data show that 35.26% of children under age 18 living in households in Leon County reside in single-parent households, placing Leon first among the state’s 37 larger counties.

Duval County ranked second at 33.24%, followed by Escambia County (32.10%), Sumter County (31.52%) and Alachua County (31.09%).

Leon County’s rate was more than two percentage points higher than second-place Duval County and more than six percentage points above Miami-Dade County, which reported 28.87%.

At the other end of the rankings, St. Johns County reported the lowest percentage at 13.36%, followed by Santa Rosa County (16.12%), Martin County (18.68%) and Clay County (19.25%).

The data also reveal that Leon County’s percentage has increased slightly since 2020.

In 2020, 34.82% of Leon County children lived in single-parent households. By 2024, that figure had increased to 35.26%, a rise of 0.44 percentage points.

Leon County ranked ninth among the 37 larger counties in the increase in its single-parent household percentage between 2020 and 2024.

Indian River County experienced the largest increase, rising 4.47 percentage points, followed by St. Lucie County (3.97 points), Hernando County (2.78 points) and Okaloosa County (2.16 points).

For Leon County, the central finding is clear: Its rate is the highest among Florida’s 37 larger counties, and the percentage has increased slightly since 2020.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey data, 2020–2024, as compiled in the supplied county comparison spreadsheet. Rankings are limited to counties with 2024 populations exceeding 95,000. The data measure the percentage of children living in single-parent households, rather than the percentage of all households headed by a single parent.

According to an LCSO press release, investigators determined that Gayle allegedly used her position to obtain improper reimbursements from the nonprofit organization, which raises funds to support Leon County public schools.

The investigation began after Leon County Schools personnel reported suspected financial discrepancies involving the Foundation.

Detectives subsequently identified inconsistencies between information Gayle submitted to the Foundation and the reimbursement payments she received. Investigators confirmed more than $1,200 in allegedly fraudulent reimbursements.

Gayle was charged with grand theft and booked into the Leon County Detention Facility.

The arrest follows an investigation that became public in August when Gayle and Foundation Executive Director Margaret Farris were placed on administrative leave.

Gayle, one of Superintendent Rocky Hanna’s highest-ranking administrators, oversees the district’s Office of Professional, Intervention and Community Services. Her responsibilities include oversight of the Foundation for Leon County Schools, school choice, community partnerships and several other district functions.

Previous Audit Identified Financial Weaknesses

On August 26, Tallahassee Reports published a follow-up investigation revealing that the Foundation’s 2023 independent audit had identified two material weaknesses in its financial controls.

One finding involved inadequate separation of financial responsibilities. Auditors reported that individual employees were responsible for multiple steps in handling financial transactions, including collecting payments, recording deposits and making bank deposits.

Auditors also identified insufficient review procedures for journal entries and credit card transactions.

The second material weakness involved significant accounting adjustments required to bring the Foundation’s financial statements into compliance with generally accepted accounting principles.

The auditors warned that the weaknesses increased the risk of financial misstatements or misappropriation of assets. However, the audit did not establish that money had been stolen, and the auditors ultimately issued an unmodified opinion on the corrected financial statements.

At the time of that report, the Foundation’s 2024 and 2025 independent audits were not publicly posted. Both are now listed on the Foundation’s financial information website.

Foundation Operations Suspended

In September, Superintendent Hanna confirmed that the district had suspended Foundation operations and hired an outside firm to examine spending practices.

The suspension affected fundraising events and the review of teacher grants. Hanna said the district needed a complete accounting of the Foundation’s financial activities before operations could resume.

The Foundation, established in 1986, raises money to support Leon County public school students, teachers and educational programs.

Its financial activity has grown significantly in recent years. According to financial records previously reviewed by Tallahassee Reports, the organization reported approximately $1.5 million in revenue during fiscal year 2024.

The arrest raises additional questions about the Foundation’s financial oversight, whether the weaknesses identified in earlier audits were corrected, and what steps district leadership and the Foundation’s board took to monitor financial transactions.

Gayle is presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court.

The complaint, filed by local businessman Dr. Erwin Jackson, requests an investigation into whether Ray improperly used his public position, compensated work time or city resources for political purposes. Jackson also provided information to the city’s Inspector General.

The complaint follows an investigation by Tallahassee Reports that identified Ray as the individual behind the anonymous username “NE Moderate,” which was used to post political commentary on the Tallahassee Reports website dating back to 2022.

According to the complaint, a comparison of timestamps from anonymous posts with city employee time records revealed numerous instances when political comments were published while Ray was clocked in and receiving taxpayer-funded compensation.

The allegations also encompass approximately 1,340 social media posts published on the Leon Democrats’ X account during 2025 and 2026. These more recent posts expand the period of political activity under scrutiny beyond the anonymous Tallahassee Reports comments.

The complaint raises questions about whether political activity associated with the Leon Democrats’ account occurred during Ray’s compensated city work hours.

The anonymous comments included criticism of elected officials, including City Commissioners Dianne Williams-Cox and Curtis Richardson, as well as commentary concerning political candidates, campaigns and city government policies.

Jackson’s complaint also identifies Matlow, City Commissioner Jack Porter, Max Herrle and former Matlow campaign manager Kris Estanga as individuals who were aware Ray posted under the anonymous identity.

“Based on several documents, emails, city employees, and city time records confirm that Jeremy Matlow and his aide, Ryan Ray, have conspired to illegally take city funds and use for political activities!” Jackson said in a statement announcing the complaint.

Jackson called for an investigation, recovery of improperly used taxpayer funds and action against those responsible.

The complaint requests an examination of whether Ray used city equipment, networks or other public resources for political activity and whether supervisors or city officials knew about or permitted the alleged conduct.

The allegations raise questions about the distinction between political speech conducted on an employee’s personal time and political activity conducted while receiving taxpayer compensation.

The filing represents allegations, not findings of wrongdoing. The complaint now places Ray’s political activities, including the more recent Leon Democrats’ social media posts, under scrutiny by the city’s ethics oversight process.

The latest U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey five-year estimate puts Tallahassee’s poverty rate at 23.6% for 2020-2024, reasonably close to the 25% figure cited by Inman-Johnson. But Tallahassee’s large college population complicates the number.

A City of Tallahassee housing analysis citing a special Census calculation reported that, using 2019-2023 data, Tallahassee’s conventional poverty rate was 23.2%. When off-campus college students were excluded, the rate dropped to 16.5%, a reduction of 6.7 percentage points.

Students represented approximately 20.7% of the population in the analysis.

The adjustment eliminates a significant portion of the apparent difference between Tallahassee and Florida, but not all of it. Tallahassee’s student-adjusted rate remained 4.2 percentage points above Florida’s, or about 34% higher.

Tallahassee’s overall poverty rate has been moving lower.

Earlier Census research put the city’s conventional poverty rate at approximately 32.4% in 2009-2011. It fell to 28.4% in 2012-2016 and stands at 23.6% in the latest 2020-2024 Census estimate.

Census research has consistently found a substantial student effect. The 2012-2016 rate fell from 28.4% to 18.3% after off-campus students were excluded. The more recent 2019-2023 analysis reduced the rate from 23.2% to 16.5%.

The data therefore add important context to Inman-Johnson’s roughly 25% claim.